The future of Lancia: Gamma and Delta... with hybrid versions

Luca Napolitano, Lancia's number one, held an important meeting with the press to give an update on the strategies of the Stellantis multinational, but also to give more details (including a few spoilers) about the Italian brand.

After the launch of the new Ypsilon in 2025, the company's attention will turn to the high-performance HF electric version of the car itself, with 280 PS. Then it will be the turn of the new Lancia Gamma, the company's real challenge.

New Lancia Gamma, rendered by Motor1.com

Scheduled for 2026, the flagship will be produced at the Melfi plant alongside the DS N°8, the new DS 7 and the future Jeep Compass. It will share with them the STLA Medium platform and, like them (with the exception of the DS, for the time being), it will not only be electric, but also a mild hybrid. Just like the Peugeot 3008 and 5008, which already use this architecture.

According to Napolitano, this choice is not intended to be a step backwards in relation to the "all-electric" plan presented in 2021, but rather an adaptation to market trends, with the possibility of tripling sales compared with a model available only with zero emissions.

Lancia Ypsilon HF

Photos by: Lancia

First teaser for the new Lancia Gamma

The Gamma will mark Lancia's return to the large saloon segment after years of absence. The last was the ill-fated Thema, based on the Chrysler 300C, and we know what happened to that. The challenge now is to win over new customers across Europe, with a model that will have fastback forms and even an HF Integrale version, to revive the glories of the old days.

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What next?

While the choice of the Gamma name remains unconvincing (among the brand's great saloons, it's certainly not the most loved or the most memorable), the decision to produce a new Lancia Delta is already causing quite a stir among enthusiasts.

More from Lancia:

The Lancia Ypsilon HF will be more powerful than expected

Lancia restomod conquers Pikes Peak

During the interview with Napolitano, the car was also mentioned, but without going into detail. Not because the Italian executive didn't want to reveal the shape and content of the new model (which will be inspired in part by the Pu+Ra HPE Concept), but because it has yet to be defined on a number of points.

The design has not yet been finalised, but Napolitano has assured us that the intention is to give it "muscular shapes and vertical lines", like the first Delta. However, there is still time to decide, perhaps more than expected, because although it was announced for 2028, it could finally arrive in 2029? But on which platform?

Pu Ra HPE prototype

The idea seems to lie somewhere between STLA Medium and Small. The company's number one has expressed his desire for a compact Delta, so the Small platform would be a prime candidate, but the decision has not yet been made.

Even the factory where it will be built has not yet been determined. If the STLA Medium is chosen, Melfi could be in pole position, but if the Small is chosen, Pomigliano would be in the lead. The second generation of the current Ypsilon could follow "I dream of a new Ypsilon based on the STLA Small and not on the CMP base", admitted Napolitano, but given a life cycle of at least six years, it's still too early to talk about it.

Will other Lancia models follow? Possibly, but Stellantis' industrial plan extends to 2030 and discussions on the 'after' have only just begun. It is difficult, if not impossible, to imagine how the model portfolio might be expanded.

The 'new top-of-the-range model' mentioned in the list of cars produced in Cassino on the basis of the STLA Large could be occupied by a top-of-the-range flagship. An SUV, perhaps? We'll wait and see.

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